TOMORROW is D-day for the nine closure-threatened Monmouthshire schools.

Nine schools are recommended to close in the county's biggest shake-up of primary education. Clydach, Croesonen Infants, Govilon, Llanellen, Llanfoist, Llanover, Park Street, St. David's Junior, all in Abergavenny and Green Lane Junior School, Caldicot face the axe as the local education authority aims to meet government targets on class sizes and building quality.

A members' panel of councillors spent months working on proposals for closures and consulting with the schools, parents and governors. But the final decision rests with councillors at tomorrow's full council meeting, where there will be a free vote, with no party whips, on the panel's recommendations.

The council now has 19 Labour members, 18 Conservatives, three independents and two Liberal Democrats. Councillor Ashley Thomas, the leader of the independent group said they had met the Liberal Democrats and agreed they would not form a coalition with either Labour or the Conservatives. They were due to meet the Labour group today, he added.

All members of the council have been urged to make their vote count by a governor at one school.

The Reverend Patrick Coleman, of Llanover, said: "Make your vote count for the future of our children."

*PICTURED: Pupils Cameron Stagg and Catherine Grimes leaving Llanover School on the last day of term.